Los Alamos social services says $165,000 state pilot grant aided 36 people but housing shortage remains

Jessica Strong, social services manager for Los Alamos County, told the Inclusivity Task Force during its meeting that the county received a $165,000 pilot grant from the New Mexico Department of Health to address homelessness in non‑metro areas and used it last year to help 36 people.

The effort “helped 36 people in a year,” Strong said, including eight who were transferred to other counties, “two of our 36 were people 21 that we would consider youth,” and four who were placed into permanent apartments. She told the group social services currently works with about 12 people and that recent contacts have raised that number to “12 to 18 currently as of like today,” including a family of five living in an RV.

Why it matters: Strong said the county’s main barrier to ending homelessness is a mismatch between local rents and available federal housing support. She said U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) voucher payment standards for Los Alamos place a typical studio or one‑bedroom voucher around $1,080 a month — substantially below local market rents — and that few landlords in the county accept Section 8 vouchers.

Strong described the spectrum of unstable housing the county sees, from people sleeping outside to those “housed by the grace of others” — couch‑surfing or living in someone else’s home without being on a lease — and said social services’ objective is to move people toward permanent, stable housing whether through vouchers, landlord agreements or other partnerships.

Details of the county’s work. Strong said the county partnered with neighboring counties that received similar state pilot grants, and with local nonprofits and churches such as LA Cares and Self Help for direct financial assistance. The grant also funded emergency necessities (groceries, gas cards, clothing), limited car repairs when vehicles were serving as shelter, and a part‑time caseworker who conducted in‑depth interviews with people experiencing homelessness.

On outcomes and caseload: Strong said 36 people were served during the grant period; eight were transferred to resources in other counties; two were identified as youth; four were permanently housed; and two became involved with the criminal justice system while social services continued to help them obtain Medicaid and other services.

Access to formal Section 8 assistance is limited. Strong said Los Alamos is in the service area of the Santa Fe Civic Housing Authority, which is based in Española. She said a staff member who used to meet locally twice a month left her position in early January and the position has not been filled, meaning residents must go to Española to pursue vouchers.

On barriers beyond housing stock, Strong pointed to transportation and employment as major obstacles. She described county partnerships with the YMCA for shower access, the Department of Workforce Solutions for help obtaining birth certificates and college transcripts, and the police department’s victim‑assistance program for short‑term hotel stays in domestic‑violence cases. She noted that some residents eligible for assistance do not seek services because of stigma or other factors.

Task force questions and follow‑up. Members asked about whether the county can provide a mailing address for people without permanent addresses and Strong said social services will accept mail for clients but that a reliable, general solution had not been settled; she suggested exploring options such as a post office box but acknowledged logistical challenges. She also described how social services responds when someone presents with an eviction notice — by helping identify immediate shelter options, contacting churches or other partners for emergency nights of shelter, referring to legal help when available, and assisting with enrollment in benefits and wait lists for housing.

On immigration and confidentiality, Strong said county social services is committed to client confidentiality and does not share records; she acknowledged the county cannot prove how many people may avoid services because of immigration concerns but said staff would not provide client information to federal immigration authorities absent legal obligation.

Looking forward. Strong urged brainstorming and regional collaboration, saying the county expects needs to continue or increase if economic conditions tighten. She invited task force members and community partners to follow up and pursue ideas such as safe‑sleep pilots, volunteer‑hosted overnight parking programs, and further employment partnerships.

Ending: Strong said she was available to meet with task force members and community partners and welcomed continued conversation, follow‑up and support for the county’s outreach and casework.